Submarine and ship safety apparatus.



G.- GIEM.

SUBMARINE AND SHIP SAFETY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 6. I915. RENEWED DEC. 8,19l6 lfimfima V Patented.July 24, 1917.

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4 SHEETS G. GIEM.

SUBMARINE AND SHIP SAFETY APPARATUS} APPLICATION FILEDOCT- 5, I915.RENEWED DEC. 8;!9l6.

lfiwfifia Patented July 24, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- G. SEEM.

SUBMAHENE AND 'SHiP SAFETY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 6, 19l5- RENHVED DEC. 3.19M.

Pat-mired July 24, 191?.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. I

wilmeoow GEORGE GIEM, F PALMER LAKE, COLORAIDQ.

- SUBMARINE AND SHIP SAFETY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2d. 191?.

Application filed October 6, 1915, Serial No. 54,396. Renewed December8, 1916. Serial No. 135,399.

' Submarine and Ship Safety Apparatus,- of

which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a submarine and ship safety apparatus, and hasfor its object the production of a simple and efficient means forpermitting a submarine to be easily located should the sameaccidentallysm production of a simple and efficient-means for permitting the raisingof a sunken submarine, and also permitting the connection with theoccupants of the submerged submarine.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists of certainnovel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing themanner of attaching a grappling hook to the cable which is connected .tothe indicating float of the submarine, the submarine being shownsubmerged.

, Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a portion of the submarineshowing the float supported upon the deck of the submarine.

Fig. 3 is a section taken at right angles to Fig. 2 showing the mannerin which the float controlling Windlass is suspended within thesubmarine.

' Fig. i is aside elevation of a portion of the submarine showing thefloat in section which is an embodiment of the structure shown in Fig.1, a telephonic connection beli ing shown between the submarine and theoat.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the float shown in Figs.1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the grappling hook used in connection withthe present-invention. v

Another object of this invention the which the cable 7 passes.

Fig. 7 is a central. vertical section through the grappling hook.

F Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 9 is a vertical sectionthrough the grappling hook receiving hopper showing the manner in whichthe grappling hook engages the bottom portion of the hopper.

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a transverse section through-the cable illustrated in Fig. 4for connecting the float with the submarine.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation partly in section showing the constructionof a float which may be submerged and attached to the hoisting cable forthe purpose of raising the submarine after the same has beenaccidentally submerged or sunk.

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the inverted grappling hook.

Fig. 1 1 is a bottom plan view of the applmg hook. gr

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the upper end of the inverted grapplinghook. FFig. 16 is a detail view of parts shown in *By referring to thedrawings it will be seen" that 1 designates the submarine which isprovide'dwith a compartment 2' near the top portion thereof, andadjacent the upper deck and this compartment 2 is provided with a cradleportion 3' upon the upper deck thereof. A float 4 is adapted to beseated upon the cradle portion 3, and this float 4 is preferably of anair tight structure having a cork base 5 secured to the bottom of thefloat to cause the float to still retain its buoyancy should the casingof the float become damaged or otherwise injured. The float 4 carries adepending eye 6 to which is secured a cable 7.

The upper deck of the submarine 1 is provided with an opening 8, and ahanger frame 9 is suspended from the bottom portion of the deck of thesubmarine by being journaled upon the journal pins 10. This hanger frame9 is provided with a hopper portion 11 which is provided with asubstantially conical shaped socket through A Windlass or drum 12 iscarried by the lower end of the frame 9 and a crank handle 13 is adaptedto operate the Windlass or drum 12 for winding the cable thereon.

It should be understood that the cable -7 may be wound upon the drum orWindlass 12 in such a manner as to permit the cable to readily unwindshould the submarine accidentally sink. It should be understood, ofcourse, that as the submarine sinks, the

buoyancy of the float 4 will cause the cable '7 to unwind from theWindlass 12, and the quired to equalize pressure on both sides of float,and allow it to rise by ,its buoyancy. A. door 15 is carried by thecompartment 2 to permit access to be had within the compartment 2 whenso desired.

A. drain pipe or valve 16 may also be connected to the bottom portion ofthe compartment 2 for the purpose of draining the same when so desired.

For the purpose of permitting the submarine to be raised after the samehas once been submerged through accident or other inadvertent cause, agrapple hook 17 is employed, which grapple hook comprises a pair of jaws18 provided with concave adjoining faces 19 for embracing the cable 7.

The jaws of the grapple hook 17 terminate in outwardly projecting cars22 at the upper ends thereof, which ears are adapted to fit under theshoulder portions23 formed around the lower end'of the hopper 11. Thegrapple hook 17" is provided with a pulley 24 around which the hoistingcable 25 passes, and the opposite end of the hoisting cable 25 isconnected to a suitable lifting means carried by the hoisting ship 26.

It should be understood that the grapple hook 17 is adapted to slide bygravity on the cable 7. When the grapple 17 reaches the hopper 11, theears 22 fold and the grapple 17 passes through the hopper 11 intocompartment 2, after which the action of gravity causes the projectingears 22 to engage the shoulders 23 of the hopper 11 and constitutes aneflicient means for connecting the hoisting cable 25 to the hopper- 11for the purpose of raising the submarine.

In Figs. 4 and 12 there is shown an em bodiment of the invention whereinthe submarine 27 is provided with the usual cradle 28 upon the upperdeck thereof for receiving the float 29. The float 29 is providedesa-see with a cork base 30 similar to the structure illustrated anddescribed with reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings. A hatchway 31 iscarried by the float 29 to permit access to be had to the interior ofthe float when so desired, and a telephone 32 is placed within the float29, the wire 33 of the telephone passing down through the cable 34,which cable 34 is connected to the eye 35 of the bolt 36.

The cable 34 is connected to a Windlass 37, and the telephone wire 33 isprovided with the usual electrical connections 38 for permitting thetelephone 39 to communicate with the telephone 32 within the float 29.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by means of thepresent device, communication may be easily had between the float 29 andthe interior of the submarine, since the telephone 39 is placed upon theouter wall of the Windlass-carrying compartment 40.

As shown in Fig. 12 an embodiment of the invention is provided wherein afloat 41 is used having a channel 45 formed centrally therethrough forthe purpose of permitting the hoisting cable 43 and grapple hook 17 topass therethrough. A grapple hook 17 is carried by the cable 43, and oneor more inverted grapple hooks 45 are also carried thereby. The grapplehook 45 is adapted to limit the upward movement of the float 41, and thegrapple hook 17 is adapted to engage the hopper 11 carried by the frame9.

The float 41 is adapted to be filled with water for the purpose ofsubmerging the same to the depth of the submarine, and after the float41 is connected to the grapple hook 45, air is forced through the airhose 46 for driving the water out from the float 41 by discharging thewater through the valve 47.

It will, therefore, be seen that by attaching the float 41 and relievingthe water from the float 41, the float will regain its buoyancy andcause the submarine to be raised.

It, of course, should be understood that the hoisting cable 43 may beattached to the float cable 7 in asimilar manner such as thatillustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

By carefully considering the drawings, especially Fig. 2, it will beseen that the shaft which supports the drum 12 is provided with asprocket wheel 50 over which a sprocket chain 52 passes. This sprocketchain 52 passes over a sprocket wheel carried by the shaft 51, whichshaft 51 carries a second sprocket wheel upon the outside of the casing2, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, over which second sprocketwheel passes a sprocket chain 53. The sprocket chain 53 then passes overa sprocket wheel carried by the crank 13, thereby making the rotation ofthe drum 12 possible by the operllll til

asagna ation of the crank 13 upon the outside of the casing 2. A ratchetwheel 54 is carried by the shaft 51 and is adapted to be engaged bymeans of the pawl 55 to limit the rotation of the shaft 51 to onedirection.

By carefully considering Fig. 12, it will be seen that the submergiblefloat 41 is provided with a plurality of cables 56 connected to thefloat 41 by means of the eyes 57 to keep the float 41 from twistingWhile the same is being submerged.

It should be understood that the grapple hook 17 is placed upon thecable 7 prior to the assembling of the sections of the hook by means ofthe pin 21 passing. therethrough.

The inverted grappling hooks 45 are connected to the cable 25 and theseinverted grappling hooks 45 which are adapted to engage the submergiblefloat 41 comprise a pair of sections 48 which are clamped around thecable 25 and held thereon by means of the bolts 49.

Ears 60 are connected to the lower ends of the sections 48 by means ofthe pins 61 and springs 62 are wound upon the pins 61 and have theirrespective ends fitting in the sockets 63 and 64 carried by the ears 60and sections 48 so as to normally hold the ears 60 in a spread-apartrelation.

It should be understood that as many of these submergible floats may beemployed as are found necessary and these floats are adapted to have thehoisting cables 25 pass therethrough and the inverted grappling hooks 45may be passed through the channel 45' formed in the submergible floats41 in view of the fact that the ears 60 may be folded inwardly andpermit the grappling hooks to pass through the apertures 45 as will beobvious by considering Fig. 12 of the drawings;

It should be understood that by having the frame which supports the drumpivotally mounted so as to constitute a cradle, the cable may be at alltimes in an upright position, should the sunken ship swing or turntoward one side.

It should be further understood that the present device is susceptibleof being used upon any form of vessel and it is not de sired to restrictthe present invention.to the raising of submarines alone for the reasonthat any form of vessel may be raised in a similar manner as describedabove.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a submarine, ahop er suspended within said submarine, a misting cable, a grapple hookcarried by said hoist ing cable and adapted to engage said hopper,submergible floats carried by said hoisting cable, inverted grapplehooks carried by said hoisting cable for limiting the upward movement ofsaid submergible floats upon said hoisting cable, said submergiblefloats provided with a centrally located passageway for permitting thepassage of said hoisting cable and grapple hooks therethrough, and meansfor forcing water contained within said float therefrom for permittingtheraising of a submarine after the attaching of said float thereto.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a submarine, ahopper suspended within said submarine, a hoisting cable, a grapple hookcarried by said hoisting cable and adapted to engage said hopper,submergible floats carried by said hoisting cable, inverted grapplehooks carried by said hoisting cable for limiting the upward movement ofsaid submergible floats upon said hoisting cable, said submergiblefloats provided with a centrally located passageway for permitting thepassage of said hoisting cable and grapple hooks therethrough, saidgrapple hooks provided with spring pressed pivotally secured cars at thelower ends thereof for permitting the passage of said grapple hooksvertically through said centrally located passageway 3. In a device ofthe class described the combination with a submergible boat, flexiblemeans connected thereto, an indicating float connected to said flexiblemeans, grappling means adapted to engage said flexible means, meanswithin said boat for facilitating the drawing of said flexible meanstherein, said grappling means adaptedto automatically lock in engagementwith said boat, a raising float, and means for regulating the buoyancyof said raising float.

4. In combination with a submergible boat, a float releasable therefrom,flexible means connecting said float and boat, a grappling deviceadapted to engage said flexible means, means for drawing said flexiblemeans within said submergible boat and guiding said grappling deviceinto automatic engagement with said boat, means carried by said boat forinterlocking with said grappling device, a second grappling devicecarried by said flexible means, a float interposed between saidgrappling devices, and said grappling devices adapted to hold saidraising float 1n firm engagement with said submergible boat.

5. In combination, a submergible boat, a

hoisting cable connected with said boat, a

grapple device fixed to said cable, a raising float having means bywhich it is adapted to be guided along said cable until it engages withsaid grappling device, means to cause coiiperation of the grapplingdevice with said float, and means whereby the floatmay be filled tocause it to move along the cable and emptied to create lifting buoyancy.

6. In combination, a submarine boat, a

releasable float thereon, a cable connecting the float and the boat, acoupler on the boat, a grappling device adapted to be guided by saidcable into automatic engagement with said coupler, a hoisting cableconnected with said grappling device, a second grappling device fixed tosaid hoisting cable at a suitable point in its length, and a raisingfloat having means whereby it may be guided along the hoisting cable andto automatically engage with the fixed grappling device aforesaid, andmeans whereby said float may be filled with Water to cause it tosubmerge and move along the hoisting cable and for displacing said waterwhereby to create raising buoyancy of said raising float.

7. In combination, a boat, hoisting means adapted to be connected tosaid boat, a grapple device carried by said hoisting means, a raisingfloat having means by which it is adapted to be guided into engagementwith said grapple device, means for causing the cooperation of saidgrapple device with said eeaaee float, and means for permitting thefilling of said float to cause the same to move along said hoistingmeans and for emptying said float to create lifting buoyancy.

8. In combination, a boat, a raising float, hoisting means adapted toengage sa1d boat, a grapple device carried by said hoist ng means, meansprovided upon said raising float and adapted to be guided by saidraising float into engagement with said grapple device, means forcausing said grapple device to engage said boat, and means forpermitting the filling of said float to cause the same to move alongsaid hoisting means and for emptying said float to create liftingbuoyancy.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

enonen GIEM.

Witnesses:

Gomronn J onns, Harms M. WENZEL.

